UoG Television Production graduate achieves career success on new ITV series

University of Gloucestershire Television Production graduate Richard Walker has achieved a milestone in his career after making his debut as a producer/director on a new ITV series.

Richard has produced and directed Unfiltered Women, a new talent-led chat show hosted by three disabled women, as part of ITV’s groundbreaking Fresh Cuts programmes airing on ITVX and ITV’s digital channels during UK Disability History Month 2024.

Richard secured his career breakthrough opportunity after the ITV Fresh Cuts team invited filmmakers to apply to produce compelling, engaging and diverse short-form content for this year’s series.

He has worked on a range of programmes within the television industry since graduating from the University, including BBC’s Dr Xand’s Con or Cure, ITV’s Tonight, and BBC Two’s Ultimate Wedding Planner, but this is the first time as a producer/director.

Unfiltered Women, which is available to watch on ITVX and ITV’s digital channels, is a series of three 10-minute programmes featuring Samantha Renke, Fats Timbo and Jay Howard.

Richard Walker said: “Receiving my first PD credit only seven years after finishing my TV Production course at University of Gloucestershire is an amazing achievement. It’s an honour to be part of the Fresh Cuts strand celebrating Disability History Month, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of creating a series from start to finish.

“Unfiltered Women is a disabled-led chat show featuring three outspoken women, Samantha Renke, Fats Timbo, and Jay Howard. It’s unapologetically disabled and champions diversity in front of and behind the camera. The women’s stories are powerful, insightful and need to be heard. You’ll also have a laugh too! As a disabled PD, it means a lot to have worked on this series.”

He added: “The foundational skills I learnt on the TV Production course have set me up for my career in television. I have fond memories of being sent out on day one of the course to film with cameras, and I’ve loved shooting ever since.

“In the third year of the course, I pitched and produced/directed a presenter-led documentary about Youtubers expressing their sexuality online, and that opportunity was the beginning of my directing journey.”

Jeremy Power, Academic Course Leader for the BA (Hons) Television Production programme, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to hear of Richard’s ongoing success in the British television industry. His passion for television was obvious the day he started at the University, as was his drive for increasing the visibility of under-represented minorities in the UK.

“Richard is a fantastic example to our students of how enthusiasm, engagement, and natural talent can help a graduate to achieve their ambition of climbing the British television career ladder.”

Image: Richard Walker with (left to right) Samantha Renke, Fats Timbo and Jay Howard